Controlling device for meters



Dec. 11, 1923. 7 1,476,944

c. J. BASSLER CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR METERS Filed May 10, 1921 4 $heets-Sheeo 1 v atfozueqd Dec. 11,1923. 1,476,944

C. J. BASSLER CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR METERS Filed May 10 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11,1923. 1,476,944

C. J. BASSLER CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR METERS Filed May 10, 1921 4 Sheets $heet 5 Filed May 10. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7, ZQllllt-A 4 .5555 %L iii-I: /////x "3 *4 j q a 0 gnvenfo'r, I Q x @Zosdbazsder Patented Dec. 11,, 1923..

CARLOS J. BASSJLER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN LIQUID METER COMPANY, or ron'rnnnn, oaneon,

A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

GON'I'ROLLIN G DEVICE FOR METERS.

Application filed May 10,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, CARLOS J. BASSLER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city vo f Portland,

Multnomah County, State of Uregon, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in (lontrolling Devices for Meters, of which the following is a specification.-

My invention relates to a controlling de- M vice for use in connection with meters.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a controlling device for use with meters which will stop the meter when a given or desired total output has been dew livered from the meter.

Another object is to provide means in such a controlling device for setting the same to cause the meter to deliver any desired quantity within certain limits and then stop.

A further object of my invention is to provide a convenient and easily operated controller for such uses, and one which can be easily set for a desired quantity.

A. further object is to provide a trip mechanism and meter-stopping device of simple design which may be employed in connection with the controller.

Other objects may be ascertained from a study of the appended drawings and of the specification and claims following hereafter.

My invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described 3 in the specification and particularly defined bythe claims terminating the same.

Tn the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a section through a piston type of meter and the valve functioning as a meter-stopping device, the controlling device being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is an elevation of an end of the meter and of the controlling device shown in set or operating position thereon.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing parts in section in the tripped .or meter-stopped position.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the same parts.

Figure 5 is a section through an end of the meter showing an operating connection between the meter and the controller.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same, the

1921. serial No. 468,445.

cylinder of the meter being shown in section.

Figure 7 is a section of the controlling device proper.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the controller taken at right angles to Figure 7.

Essentially the controlling device consists of two members which are relatively movable and which are operated, directly or indirectly, by the movement of the piston or other movable element in a meter to operate a trip after a given number of reciprocations of the piston, whereby the action of the meter is stopped.

The type of meter which T have shown herein employed in connection with my device, comprises a piston 1 reciprocable within a cylinder 10. The piston, at the end of its travel in either direction under the influence of the fluid pressure, operates a pivoted trip arm 11, controlling a. pawl 12 which engages a detent 13, to release the pawl from the detent. A spring 14 interposed between the piston and the detent 13 is compressed in the advance of the piston,

and upon the release of the pawl 12 the spring 14 thrusts the detent forward. This detentis connected to a valve yoke 15 which carries a pair of valves 16 and 17, which control respectively the inlet to and the discharge from this end of the cylinder. The same mechanism is duplicated at the opposite end, and by its movement reverses the setting of the valves at this. end of the cylinder and causes the reversal of the direction of movement of the piston. These details, however, may be varied to suit conditions.

The meter-stopping device which l have shown consists of a valve 2 which has ports 20 therethrough which are registrable with ports 21 in a bushing 22 within which the valve 2 is reciprocable. The bushing 22 and the valve 2 are set in a position where they will control the discharge from the meter. its the meter is operated by the pressure of the liquid itdoes not matter whether the valve 2 and its bushing are placed in the intake to the meter or in its discharge. Tn either case the efi'ect would be the same. Let us consider, however, that it is placed in the discharge path. When closed, as shown in Figure 3. discharge from the meter is cut off. When Gli are moved out of alinement.

the valve is raised to the position shown in Figure 1 the fluid from the meter may pass freely from the cylinder 10 through the exhaust port 19 and through the valve 2 and its bushing 22. 'I prefer that a spring 23 be employed to close the .valve positively when it is not held raised.

As stated above, the controller proper consists ementially of two members which are relatively movable. Herein I have shown one of these members as comprising a rotative collar 3, which preferably carries a disk 30 upon which is placed an indicating scale, and the fixed member consists of a ring 4, which is preferably provided with a pointer 40 cooperating with the scale upon the disk 30. The ring 4 surrounds the collar 3 and its central opening may be sulficiently large to permit relative reciprocable movement of the ring 4 upon the collar 3 in the plane of the ring, but the ring is not rotatable upon the collar. The collar 3 is provided with a recess or transverse hole 31 and the ring 4 may be provided with a similar hole 41 registrable therewith.

A pin 51, which is connected to the trip mechanism of a suitable design, is receivable in the holes 41 and 31 when these are aline'd. However, if the collar 3 is moved from its normal or zero position the holes 31 and 41 then'has a bearing engagement upon the periphery of thecollar 3. I The pin will not again engage in the bore 31 of the collar until the collar and ring have again moved to their relative normal or zero position. The pointer 40 and the scale upon the disk register the amount by which the collar and ring are moved from their zero position.

To return parts to their zero position after having been moved therefrom, I employ mechanism which is operated through the reciprocation of the piston 1. Any suitable means may be employed, and these may be either directly or indirectly connected to the piston. Those shown herein consist of a ratchet device within the end of the cylin-.

der 10, which is operated directly by the movement of the valve yoke 15, which movement is transmitted by suitable gearing to the collar 3. The location of the ratchet means is likewise unimportant, for it is obvious that this might be without the cy1in der. The actuatin connection with valve yoke might be through the rod 18, which projects through the head of the cylinder.

A ratchet whee-l 6 is engageable by oppositely directed pawls 60 which are suitably mounted upon the valveyoke and arranged to turn the wheel 6 with a movement of the valve yoke 15 in either direction. The shaft 61 which carries the wheel 6 projects up ward through the cylinder wall and drives a shaft 62 through bevel gearing 63. A

The pin 51' the worm 64 mounted upon the shaft 62 communicates its motion to a worm gear 65 upon which the collar 3 is secured. The collar 3 may be adjustably secured to the worm gear 65 y means of a lock nut 33 threading upon the end of the sleeve 66 of the worm gear and upon which sleeve the collar 3 is rotatively mounted.

The tripping means which are shown herein include a trip lever 52, which is fixedly pivoted, and which has a bearing support at one end 53 for the lower end of the bar 5 which carries the pin 51 referred to above. The bar 5 is guided for motion in a straight line in the direct-ion of the holes 31 and 41. .At another point, 54, the trip lever 52 is provided with a seat for the reception of the trip arm 55, which is fixedly pivoted at 56. A tip 57 may be provided for the arm 55which is yieldable in one direction to permit passage of the same past the bearing point 54 of the lever 52, but which is not yieldable. in the opposite direction. This is a common construction for such members. The trip arm 55 may also have an incline 59. A roller 25 carried by the upper end of the stem 24 of the valve 2 bears upon the upper surface of the trip arm, adj acent the incline 59. When it is desired to have the meter dcliver a certain number of gallons, for instance fifteen, and where it will deliver at each stroke less than this number of gallons, the pin 51 is first disengaged from the hole 31 in the collar 3. Then by releasing the locknut 33, the collar 3 is free to rotate upon the sleeve 66. As the sleeve 3 is rotated the disk 30 is also rotated until the pointer indicates on the scale carried upon the disk the desired number of gallons. The collar 3 is then fixed upon the sleeve 66 in this position and the meter is put in position to operate by opening the valve 2, raising it from the position shown in Figure 3 and setting the tri arm 55 and the trip lever 52 in the position shown in Fi ure 2. As the pin 51 is bearin now on y against the outer periphery of tie collar 3, the trip lever 52 is held in this raised position. The ring 4 which is supported vertically by the bar 5 is slightly lowered. The meter may now be put into operation by admitting fluid under pressure through any suitable control valve (not shown).

The piston now reciprocates, and at the end of each stroke the position of the valves 16 and 17, and consequently the valve yoke 15, is changed. This movement of the valve yoke, which is accomplished through the movement of the piston, as heretofore described, caused the rotation in one direction of the ratchet wheel 6. The movement of the ratchet wheel .6 is communicated through the connections described to the worm gear 65 and to the collar 3, secured to rotate therewith. The disk 30 carried thereby is gradually returned to its normal or zero position. Upon reaching this position the holes 31 and 41 again come into alinement, and the pin 51 is permitted to enter the hole 31, being forced upward by the spring 23, operating through trip arm 55 and lever 52. This slightly raises the ring 4 and its pointer 40, though this is largely immaterial, and raises the bar 5, and lowers the bearing point 54 of the trip lever sufliciently to permit the end 57 of the trip arm 55 to drop therefrom and to beunsupported. The trip arm, in swinging down, permits the valve 2 to be lowered, the incline 59 increasing the speed of this action and facilitating it. In this manner when the desired number of gallons have passed through the meter the meter is automatically stopped and further delivery therefrom is prevented. v

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a movable controller indicator, a normally relatively fixed indicating member cooperating with said movable indicator, means for setting said indicators relatively for any desired quantity, and a trip-releasing member connecting said indicators when theyare in zero position, and movable from tripping position to disengage said indicators one from the other.

2. The combination with a movable controller indicator having a recessed seat for a trip re-leasing member, a normally relatively fixed indicating member cooperating with said movable indicator, and a trip releasing member havin bearing engagement upon said fixed indicating member, and adapted to enter the said recessed seat in the movable indicator thereby to operate a tri v 3. lhe combination with an adjustable rotative controller indicator having a re, cessed seat for a trip releasing member, a non-rotative member carrying a pointer 00- operating with said indicator, and a trip releasing member having guided engagement with said non-rotative member and adapted to enter the said recessed seat in the rotative indicator to thereby operate the trip.

4. The combination with a meter having a reciprocating piston, a rotative shaft extending into the metering chamber, a ratchet wheel upon said shaft within the when in zero position.

6. A meter control device cemprising a rotative collar and a non-rotative ring secured thereabout, a trip bar, and said ring and said collar having means engageable by said trip bar to prevent their relative rotation when in zero position.

7. A meter control device comprising a rotative collar and a non-rotative ring movable relative thereto in the plane of the ring and secured about said collar, a trip bar, means normally holding said trip bar in raised position, and said collar and ring having recesses adapted to lie in alinement and to receive the upper end of said trip bar when in normal or zero position.

8. A meter control device comprising a rotative collar and a non-rotative ring movable relative thereto in the plane of the ring and secured about said collar, a trip bar, means normally holding said trip bar in raised position, said collar and ring having recesses adapted to lie in alinement and to receive the upper end of said trip bar when in normal or zero position, and said bar having a bearing engagement upon the periphery of sald collar when said recesses are out of alinement.

9. In combination, a meter control device comprising a rotative collar and a non-r0- tative ring positioned adjacent thereto, a trip bar, said ring and collar having means engageable by said trip bar toprevent their relative rotation when in zero position, a pivoted trip lever having a supporting hearing for said trip bar at one end, a pivoted trip arm having a supporting bearing for one end at the opposite end of said tri lever, and a meter-stopping means controlled by the position of said trip arm.

Signed at Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, this 2nd day. of May, 1921.

CARLOS J. BASSLER. 

